2017 Committee

President – Caitlin Yolland

Degree/University: PhD, Swinburne University

Caitlin is currently studying a PhD in cognitive neuroscience at Swinburne University. Under the supervision of Prof. Susan Rossell, Caitlin is investigating the relationship between antioxidant concentrations and cognitive impairment in chronic, treatment-resistant Schizophrenia. This research is being undertaken as a section of a larger clinical trial investigating a new antioxidant treatment for schizophrenia, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Through the acquisition of cortical antioxidant concentrations using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Caitlin’s findings will provide information as to the processes by which NAC may work to improve the cognitive symptoms observed in schizophrenia. In 2012 Caitlin completed her Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science double degree at Deakin University, majoring in both Drama and Psychology respectively. At this time she was awarded lifetime membership of the Golden Key International Honours Society.

After taking a couple of years to frolic around the world and experience an array of occupational fields, Caitlin was excited to return to her Psychology studies. In 2015 she undertook her Psychology Honours at Deakin University, receiving First Class Honours and the Outstanding Fourth Year Project (Psychology Honours) Award.

Caitlin is thrilled to be working with SOBR in 2017 and is looking forward to continuing the excellent work set forth by previous committees, by creating and strengthening networks for student researchers.

Vice President – Leonie Duehlmeyer

Degree/University: PhD, Swinburne University

Leonie
is currently a third year PhD student in the Department of Psychology at the
University of Melbourne. In her PhD project, she analyses BOLD responses and
event-related functional connectivity during learning from errors in drug
addiction. She is interested in applying her findings to improving treatment
methods and policies.

In
2014, Leonie received a Research Master in Cognitive Neuroscience at the
University of Amsterdam. In 2011, she attained a Bachelor in Biology at the
University of Hamburg, completing her Bachelor project externally in the
department for Neuropsychology of the Hamburg Epilepsy Centre. In her work as a
Research Assistant in the department of Psychobiology and during her studies,
Leonie performed experiments assessing hormone data, time-frequency and ERP
analysis of EEG data, fMRI data, ultrasound and eye tracking. Moreover, she
administered alcohol and oxytocin to investigate their effects on voluntary
response inhibition and trust, respectively.

Leonie
is excited to be involved in this year’s SOBR committee and hopes to help build
lasting networks between students, academics, institutions, and industry.

Secretary – Jessica Marshall

Degree/University: PhD, University of Melbourne

Jess
is currently a first year PhD student at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, in
conjunction with the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health at
Melbourne University. She is researching into the effects of over-expressing
Heat Shock Protein 72 on the cognitive decline and disease progression of
Alzheimer’s Disease, as a potential therapy. Her studies are supported by the
Baker Bright Sparks Program and the Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research
Foundation.

In
2014, Jess completed her Bachelor of Biomedical Science and went on to complete
an Honours year (2015) investigating the effects of skeletal muscle-specific
Heat Shock Protein 72 as a potential treatment for obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
at the Baker Institute.

When
she’s not in the lab, Jess can be found on stage as an avid musical theatre
performer. Credits include; Hairspray, Cinderella, Once Upon a Mattress, Evita,
Grease, Legally Blonde, Wicked and currently working on Godspell. She is very
excited to be immersed into the world of neuroscience with you all!

Currently,
Sean is a 4th year PhD student at the Brain and Psychological Sciences Research
Centre at Swinburne University and the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre
(MAPrc). Working under the supervision of Prof. Susan Rossell, Sean’s thesis
explores the pervasive executive functioning deficits prevalent in
schizophrenia. Specifically, he is using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to
examine the functional and structural brain networks linked to executive
functioning and how any abnormalities in such networks may contribute to the
deficits prevalent in schizophrenia.

In
addition to his own thesis, Sean currently works on several projects focussed
on developing and validating therapies aimed at enhancing the cognitive
capacities of people with schizophrenia. Sean is excited to be working with SOBR
in 2017 and looking forward to developing and strengthening SOBR across the
year.

Events Manager (Dinner) – Remika Mito

Degree/University: PhD, University of Melbourne

Remika
is a second year PhD student at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental
Health. After graduating from the University of Sydney with a BSc(Adv)(Hons)/BA
with the university medal, along with a fascination for neurodegenerative
diseases and clinical neuroscience, she moved to Melbourne to commence her PhD
research. Working under the supervision of Prof Alan Connelly, A/Prof Amy
Brodtmann, and Dr Victor Villemagne, she is currently researching white matter
pathology in Alzheimer’s disease with novel neuroimaging techniques. By
applying state-of-the-art MRI methods, she hopes that her work will foster
greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying white matter degeneration in
dementia.

Remika
looks forward to working alongside a fantastic SOBR team to bring about
exciting events and in particular, organise this year’s Networking Dinner.
While she investigates the connectivity networks in the ageing brain for her
research, she hopes to facilitate networking and create opportunities for
lasting connections to be made among brain research students, neuroscience
enthusiasts, and established researchers and professionals in her role as
Events Manager this year.

Events Manager (Dinner) – Umesh Nair

Degree/University: PhD, University of Melbourne

Umesh moved from Singapore seven years back to begin his undergrad degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Having passion in research, he joined the Petrou lab headed by Prof. Steve Petrou at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, to complete his honours year.

Umesh’s
area of research looks at precision therapies for childhood epilepsies caused
by mutations in ion channels using electrophysiology as his experimental
methodology. Focusing on potassium channels, under the supervision of Dr. Carol
Milligan from the Petrou lab, Umesh determined the effects of Quinidine, an
antiarrhythmic, on SLACK channels, which are encoded by the KCNT1 gene. Having
found a novel potential therapeutic, the lab published Umesh’s findings as part
of a study on SLACK channels in Annals of Neuroscience.

Currently
in his third year of his PhD with the same lab, Umesh is investing the effects
of other possible therapeutics for a variety of potassium channels found in the
central nervous system using an array of modern electrophysiological
techniques.

Umesh
strives to balance work and play. He is an avid traveller and enjoys
photography. Umesh also enjoys networking, as he truly believes everyone has a
story to tell.

Events Manager (Symposium) – Aurina Arnatkeviciute

Degree/University: PhD, Monash University

Aurina
completed her Bachelor degree in Physics (2013) and Masters in Neurobiology
(Magna Cum Laude, 2015) at Vilnius University, Lithuania. During her Masters,
she was working on cognitive EEG experiments using three-dimensional mental rotation
paradigms in relation to sex and hormone related differences. In 2014 she was
awarded ERASMUS placement scholarship which allowed her to spend 5 months in
MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, England, where she carried
out neurophysiological experiments related to audio time perception during
different stages of consciousness.

Currently,
she is a 2nd year PhD student at the Brain and Mental health Laboratory at
Monash University under the supervision of A/Prof Alex Fornito and Dr. Ben Fulcher.
Her main research interest is to understand how genetics can influence brain
connectivity in both health and disease. Determining these influences on brain
organisation will shed the light on the underlying genetic principles of brain
disorders and provide some information about potential targets for their
treatment. In order to tackle this issue, she is relating brain connectivity to
its underlying genetic mechanisms in both human and animal brain networks.

Events Manager (Symposium) – Yann Chye

Degree/University: PhD, Monash University

Yann
Chye is currently a PhD candidate at the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory at
Monash University, under the supervision of Prof. Murat Yücel, A/Prof Nadia
Solowij, Dr Valentina Lorenzetti, and Dr Chao Suo. Her project focuses on the
impact of cannabis use on the brain, as well as predisposing vulnerabilities
and moderators that may result in worse outcomes and greater dependence in
cannabis users. Prior to commencing her PhD, Yann completed her undergraduate
studies (BBiomed) majoring in Neuroscience, followed by a graduate and
postgraduate diploma in Psychology, at the University of Melbourne.

Media and Marketing Manager – Lizzie Thomas

Degree/University: PhD, Monash University

Lizzie
completed her Bachelor of Biomedical Science/Bachelor of Science double degree
at Monash in 2013, majoring in Genetics/Molecular Biology and Immunology/Human
Pathology. Lizzie then went on to complete her Honours year (2014) at the
Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc). She is now currently in her
third year of her PhD with the same lab, under the supervision of Dr. Caroline
Gurvich, Prof. Susan Rossell and Dr. Kiymet Bozaoglu.

Lizzie’s
PhD project involves investigating the influence of the glutamatergic system on
cognition across the schizotypy/schizophrenia continuum. It is believed that
the symptoms and personality characteristics of schizophrenia are believed to
lie on a continuum; schizophrenia on one end and psychosis proneness or
schizotypy on the other end, observed in healthy individuals. Her main research
interest is to investigate the glutamatergic pathways that influence cognition
and explore what tips the balance from being a healthy individual with mild
symptom presentation to having a clinical diagnosis.

Lizzie
is excited to be part of the 2017 SOBR committee and working with the rest of
the team. She hopes to continue creating opportunities for brain research
students to network and develop lasting connections.

Media and Marketing Assistant – Dylan Fox

Degree/University: PhD, Monash University

Dylan
completed his Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience at Monash University in 2014.
During his time as an undergraduate, he was involved in teaching first-year
biomedical science students where he developed a passion for education. He was
also involved in a summer project under the supervision of A/Prof. James Bourne
investigating the role of area MT in facilitating preserved vision following
early-life disruptions to primary visual areas.

The
following year he completed his honours year with the same supervisor where his
project aimed to develop protocols for the voluntary training and assessment of
the awake/conscious marmoset in their visually guided behaviours. Now just
finished his first year of his PhD (as of 12/02/17), he has applied the
protocols he developed during honours to investigate the functional role of the
pulvinar nucleus in the early development of visually guided actions such as
reaching to grasp.

Dylan
is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the SOBR 2017 team. He hopes to
learn new skills to assist in connecting and strengthening the students of the
neuroscience community.

Media and Marketing Assistant – Mana Biabani

Degree/University: PhD, Monash University

Mana
completed her Bachelor’s and master’s degree in Physiotherapy at Shiraz
University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. After graduating, she began her
research career and engaged in several research projects on human motor
control. During which time, she developed a strong interest in Neuroscience and
moved to Australia in 2015 to pursue her passion in this field. Now she is a
second year PhD student at Monash University, working under the supervision of
Dr. Nigel Rogasch and A/Prof Alex Fornito in Brain & Mental Health Lab. Her
project mainly involves mapping brain dynamics using transcranial magnetic
stimulation (TMS) combined with brain imaging modalities.
Mana is very excited to be a part of this year’s SOBR committee and hopes that
she can make a valuable contribution to the network.

Digital Media and Community Engagement Co-Manager – Kimberly Thek

Degree/University: PhD, University of Melbourne

Kimberly
is a first year PhD student at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental
Health at The University of Melbourne. Predominantly using whole-cell
electrophysiology to investigate the networks and processing of primary
afferents within the brainstem, Kimberly is interested in how the vagus nerve
modulates behaviour. By utilising optogenetic tools, she aims to dissect how
such information is differentially processed within the brain.
After completing a Bachelor of Science (Physiology) at The University of
Melbourne, Kimberly joined the Viscerosensation lab at The Florey. Her Honours
work investigated the gating of internal sensory afferent information in the
nucleus of the solitary tract by somatostatin-expressing interneurons. Kimberly
continued in the lab as a research assistant, taking on a number of projects
through 2016.

Outside
of the lab Kimberly enjoys cycling and walking her dog. She recently took up
track cycling and is determined not to fall off the velodrome. She looks
forward to working with the SOBR committee and community in 2017.

Digital Media and Community Engagement Co-Manager – Anthony Boghdadi

Degree/University: PhD, University of Melbourne

Anthony
completed his Bachelor of Science in 2012 at Monash University, Clayton Campus.
He majored in Anatomy and Developmental Biology/ Immunology and Human
Pathology. In his final year he undertook a mini-research project in the Bourne
Lab, subsequently undertaking a Summer Project. These experiences peaked his interest
in Neuroscience, in particular towards a group of myelin-associated proteins
and how they may have key roles in regulating plasticity and repair inhibition
following neocortical injury. Staying in the lab for Honours, he started
characterising the expression of these proteins following focal ischemia of
neonate and adult nonhuman primate neocortex.

He
is currently undertaking his PhD under the supervision of A/ Prof. James Bourne
and Dr Leon Teo continuing on with the project. He is currently investigating
these myelin proteins more in-depth, specifically their inhibitory roles and
how cells expressing these proteins respond at different times following
neocortical injury. This project aims to identify an appropriate window in
which to interfere with the activity of these myelin proteins to assess whether
we can elicit improved functional outcomes following neocortical injury.

Anthony
has thoroughly enjoyed the networking opportunities provided by SOBR and the
fantastic events hosted each year. He is very thankful for the opportunity to
be a part of the 2017 SOBR committee.

Non-steering Member – Rhian Stavely

Degree/University: PhD, Monash University

Rhian
Stavely completed his Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences) with honours at
Victoria University in 2014. Rhian received the vice-chancellors scholarship
and is currently undertaking his PhD with the Victoria University enteric
neuropathy group under the supervision of A/Prof Kulmira Nurgali at the Western
Centre for Health Research and Education, Sunshine hospital. His current research
focuses on inflammatory bowel diseases with a specific interest in the
neuroprotective mechanisms of adult-sourced stem cells and serotonergic
signalling associated with intestinal inflammation.

As
a 2017 committee member of the SOBR network, Rhian is excited to be a part of
an organisation which aims to connect junior researchers and promote their
professional development.

Non-steering Member – Ella Noorian

Degree/University: PhD, University of Melbourne

From
an early age, Ella knew genetics and neuroscience are the tools that benefit
both individuals and the entire society. She wanted to be a part of the
community of scientists to create a more humane and advanced world. In 2006,
she gained a Bachelor of Cell and Molecular Biology at Shiraz University.

For
her MSc, she studied Genetics at TMU, and her topic was “Investigation of
22q11.2 Microdeletions and Microduplications among Idiopathic Mental Retarded
(and Schizophrenic) patients in an Indo-European population.” In July 2011, she
accepted a funded research position as a visitor at the Langer laboratories,
MIT. Ella has extensive research experience in a variety of research sectors
including, Sarem Women Hospital, Apollonia College Ltd, Children Cancer
Institute of Australia, and WEHI.

Ella
is currently a PhD student at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental
Health focusing on neurogenetic and proteomic studies of post-mortem human
brain tissues in Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and MDD under the supervision
of Professor Brian Dean and Dr. Andrew Gibbons.

SOBR’s
mission to connect the local neuroscience network reflects my personal and
professional goals to contribute to the scientific community and help those in
need, especially those suffering from psychiatric and neurodevelopmental
disorders.